ARLINGTON – The weight of the bets was worn by Scott Servais and literally made him cry. Happy tears.
After a four-hour, two-minute marathon that required 11 entries to complete and in which Seattle won five wins, but again won 9-8 over the Rangers Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field, the Mariners coach . was convened for a post-game team meeting. There have been a few examples this season, but especially when Seattle has been in a routine. This one, despite a match that outsiders might consider an “ugly victory”, had to congratulate his club on its decision.
“For me, this is the ultimate gut control game,” Servais said. “When, as if, it was disassembled, it would move away from you and be so easy to pack, but ours didn’t.”
Thanks to the two-way heroics of Ty France, who made a remarkable header defensive play in the 10th that kept the game within reach and then crushed a two-street homer in the 11th, the Mariners advanced to the season. 10 games over 500 (66-56), a mark that the Mariners have not reached since April 12, 2019, a day after finishing the best 13-2 outing in MLB (until a final final).
This benchmark has much more legitimacy than the fun and bewildering start of two years ago, given Seattle’s depth this season, with only 40 games left, and how far it has come from the “step” itself. general manager Jerry Dipoto back ”.
Servais’ meeting at the virgin house at Globe Life Field was just to illustrate.
“He’s done it a few times this year, where he’s sidelined us and let us know he’s grateful for our work, all the work we’ve done and the pride he’s got from how far we’ve come,” France said. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to be where we are right now, so it’s just a testament to how hard the guys have worked there and dedicated themselves to their business.”
“I let them know personally how proud I am of this group,” Servais said. “It’s a special group. It really is. It’s a long day. Sorry, so I’m a little excited, but I love this team. I really do. ”
The Mariners knew the bets to make or break this three-city fabric through the American West League, which now heads to Houston for three games and then to Oakland for two. While Servais rightly pointed out that completing a sweep of any team in the Majors is a challenge, this leg in Arlington certainly needed a “take care of business” approach to staying in the postseason hunt. While Thursday’s emotional affair events don’t indicate as much, the box score and rating say Seattle had one.
The Mariners also wrapped up their 2021 streak with last place in Texas with a 13-6 record, and completed their first series hit since their epic four-game win over Tampa Bay in late June.
But it took until the last release.
Paul Sewald delivered a 410-foot flight to Andy Ibáñez that would have cleaned the wall in 17 rooms, including T-Mobile Park. He was pitching for the third day in a row, his longest stretch of the season.
And Sewald was only called up due to a combined collapse by Anthony Misiewicz and Diego Castillo in the ninth. Misiewicz, who worked with five advantages, gave up each of his first three batters before Castillo arrived and finally gave Jason Martin a two-run homer. The three-race blast apparently blew the winds out of Seattle’s sails.
Until France intervened.
In the 10th, France threw a high throw from Abraham Toro in a possible 6-4-3 double play. His jump took him out of the bag, although he had a chance to spot auto-runner Yonny Hernandez who finished in third place and threw a shot at JP Crawford, who was covering and scoring quickly. The ball passed and the back ball that would have appeared would have been much bigger if France had not had its head turned.
Minutes later, France activated a quick inside ball and sent it 400 feet into the left field seats to get the decisive dagger.
“It was a big point,” France said. “I’m not really trying to attack the homers, but he left a quick ball and I put a good spin on it, and in the end it came out for us.”
Now, he arrives in Houston, where the early Astros are waiting for what will objectively be the Mariners ’biggest series in at least three years. On Thursday the emotions were already high; they could reach an even higher peak this weekend.